Anchor and Burden is a project led by the eclectic multi-instrumentalist Markus Reuter, offering Progressive sounds steeped in Jazz, Zeuhl and more. The new album “Afterglow” was released on August 30, 2024 via Iapetus and contains four long tracks. The opener “Shards of Death” immediately plunges us into the band’s darkest and most intricate sounds, steeped in electronic sounds and complex Post-Metal and Zeuhl textures. The modulations of sounds thanks to a fine use of effects are one of the song’s main features, set against an intricate and highly technical rhythm section. In the finale, the guitar takes centre stage with a prolonged solo insert that takes us to the end. Gloomy atmospheres and complex textures also characterise the following track “Morgentod,” a slower track with incisive and penetrating sounds. The tempo changes are continuous, the developments of the central theme very free, enhancing the technique of the artists involved by proposing a genre that incorporates the complexity of Zeuhl and the power of new trends such as Post-Metal. Interweaving guitar, keyboards and electronic parts and an intricate rhythm section characterise the track, with fine solo cues from all instruments. “Behind the Veil” shows a more electronic and experimental facet of the band’s sound, taking Zeuhl sounds to the extreme. With their own personal touch and a large dose of originality, the band offers a track that is really very complex and permeated by sounds and modulations that create restless and gloomy atmospheres. The guitar is incisive and penetrating and accompanies us throughout the track with a prolonged solo that intertwines with the intricate rhythm section and electronic sounds. The album ends with “Crystal Cabin,” also here the band continues its exploration of the more Experimental side of progressive Rock and Zeuhl. Electronic sounds and modulations are layered and interwoven with Reuter’s fine work on the various guitars. The complex textures here offer an enveloping but very elaborate track, closing this work that will certainly reserve interesting and new details for future listening. An elaborate album, at times very intricate and complex, that needs good attention and perhaps several listens to grasp its true essence. The band’s technique is pushed to the extreme, enhanced by the long instrumental textures that incorporate elements of different genres and styles. Between Zeuhl and heavier, more modern sounds, the band incorporates Progressive, Jazz and Experimentation, offering a high standard of work. Recommended listening for all lovers of the more elaborate sounds of Progressive, for a band that succeeds in bringing Zeuhl sounds into a modern and original context.
Tracklist
01. Shards of Death (11:33)
02. Morgentod (05:13)
03. Behind the Veil (07:26)
04. Crystal Cabin (07:17)
Markus Reuter / Touch Guitars AU8 and S8, Soundscapes
Alexander Paul Dowerk / Touch Guitars S8
Bernhard Wöstheinrich / Keyboards and Electronics
Asaf Sirkis / Drums and Percussion
